Strat-O-Matic Simulates AL Wild Card Game

We’re back at it again, simulating the Wild Card games to give you a preview of tonight’s action. We did the same for the World Series in 2017 and accurately predicted Houston’s seven game victory. You can find our results for that simulation here.

Last night we simulated the NL Wild Card game and correctly had Colorado beating Chicago. You can find our results here.

Tonight we have the AL Wild Card game between the two teams with the most prolific power in the AL this year, Oakland and New York.

Here we go!

OAKLAND vs. NEW YORK

Luis Severino got the start for New York and put Oakland down in order quickly in the first. Andrew McCutchen led the game off for NY with a base hit and moved to third on an Aaron Hicks single but opener Liam Hendriks struck out Giancarlo Stanton and retired Luke Voit to put the threat away. Severino’s second inning wouldn’t be so smooth, as Khris Davis and Stephen Piscotty each go deep giving Oakland an early 2-0 lead. Aaron Judge retailiates in the bottom of the 3rd with a homerun of his own.

The game stays 2-1 into the 6th inning, long after each team has gone to their bullpen. Didi Gregorius manages to tie the game with a sacrifice fly off Ryan Buchter. Marcus Semien reaches base for Oakland in the 7th but is thrown out by Aaron Hicks after a 2-out double which ends the inning. New York breaks the tie shortly after with a Voit HR and add an insurance run as Gleyber Torres knocks in pinch-runner Adeiny Hechavarria with a base hit.

Oakland again mounts a threat in the 8th, after a leadoff walk, single, and wild pitch put two runners in scoring position with two outs but Piscotty flies out to center to end the inning. Aroldis Chapman strikes out the side in the 9th to preserve the win and give New York their second consecutive Wild Card Game win. New York pitchers stuck out 15 on their way to the win, Severino and Robertson led with 4 apiece.